Bruins brass remains optimistic about an end to the lockout

Claude Julien was figuring out his lines on Monday morning. No, not whether to put Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin on opposite wings. The Bruins coach was just trying to decide which line to wait in at Target. Wearing a Bruins Santa hat (a fashion downgrade from his Winter Classic fedora), Julien picked out gifts for children as part of the team’s annual holiday toy-shopping event.

No, not whether to put Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin on opposite wings. The Bruins coach was just trying to decide which line to wait in at Target.

Wearing a Bruins Santa hat (a fashion downgrade from his Winter Classic fedora), Julien picked out gifts for children as part of the team’s annual holiday toy-shopping event.

It’s just the latest cap the coach has worn as the NHL lockout beats on. Julien has been watching the Providence Bruins intently, he’s gone up to Canada to scout prospects, and he has huddled weekly with his assistant coaches.

"The one thing I have done is keep myself busy," Julien said. "But as I’ve often mentioned, I’m not doing what I should be doing at this time of year. I’m looking forward to getting back to my normal routine."

When that will be is unclear. The league Monday made the procedural move of canceling all games through Dec. 30, knocking six more Boston dates off the calendar.

Even with nearly three full months of the NHL schedule already wiped out and last week’s breakdown in labor negotiations, Julien and team president Cam Neely remain optimistic a season will be played.

"I’ve been half-full this whole way and I’m staying half-full," Neely said. "It’s frustrating. I think a lot of people thought we’d be playing by now. But I’m still optimistic something will get done — at least that’s my hope."

Neely played during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season, which began on Jan. 20, 1995, and was limited to 48 regular-season games. Commissioner Gary Bettman has said he wouldn’t allow a season of fewer than 48 games per team.

If a deal is reached in the next few weeks, it’s likely another season of 48 or so games would be the result, with many or all inter-conference games eliminated.

"I was a player when we played the 48 games — it was like a sprint to the playoffs," Neely said. "So it’ll be just like that. … It’s just a matter of what kind of condition the players will be in."

Whenever the NHL does return, the Bruins and the rest of the team may have to win some fans back. Based on Monday, that may not be a problem. Julien, Neely and other Bruins personnel took plenty of pictures with surprised holiday shoppers.

"I’m hopeful and I know they’ll be upset, and rightfully so," Neely said of the fans. "But I’m hopeful that with what’s gone on the past few years, we’ve been able to put a team on the ice that’s competing for Stanley Cups, we won a Stanley Cup. I think our fan base is very excited about our team."

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Julien coached Montreal during the last lockout, a place where a work stoppage slows fan interest the way a stick check stops Zdeno Chara.

"I think it depends on the area," Julien said. "There’s areas, those Canadian cities, they don’t have NBA, or hardly any have it, and Major League Baseball. So it’s easier because hockey is the famous, major Canadian sport."

Neely also confirmed the Bruins’ worst-kept secret that they’re looking at a new practice facility. The lease at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington is up after this season and the Bruins would reportedly like to move closer to Boston, possibly in Brighton.

"I’ve been working on a couple projects with regards to practice facility," Neely said. "We’ve been in Wilmington and it’s been a great relationship there, but in the near future we’re going to have to do something different."

After handing over his shopping cart of toys, Neely was asked what he’d like for Christmas.

"Like most of us, dropping the puck sometime soon," he said. "That would be a great Christmas gift."

Dan Cagen can be reached at 508-626-3848 or dcagen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanCagen.